How much does it cost to buy Bitcoin?
Quick Answer
You pay the Bitcoin price plus a small fee. Exchange trading fees are typically 0.1%–0.5%, while instant card purchases can be 1.5%–4%. There is no minimum coin — you can buy a few dollars' worth.
TL;DR
Bitcoin price + a fee: ~0.1%–0.5% by bank transfer, higher (1.5%–4%) by card. Compare exchanges to pay less.
Key Takeaways
- 1Trading fees are usually 0.1%–0.5% per trade
- 2Card/instant-buy fees are higher (1.5%–4%)
- 3Watch the spread and any deposit/withdrawal fees
- 4Use a fee comparison to find the cheapest option
Full Explanation
The cost of buying Bitcoin is the current price plus fees. The main fee is the exchange's trading fee, usually between 0.1% and 0.5% of your purchase. So buying $100 of Bitcoin might cost 10–50 cents in trading fees on a low-cost exchange.
Instant purchases with a debit or credit card are more expensive, often 1.5% to 4%, because of card-processing costs. There can also be a spread (a small gap between buy and sell price) and, on some platforms, deposit or withdrawal fees. These add up, especially for small frequent buys.
The practical tip: compare fees before you buy. Our exchange fee comparison tool shows the real cost on each exchange for your trade size, so you can pick the cheapest. There is no minimum 'one coin' to buy — most exchanges let you start with just a few dollars.